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This was a great break from the long, heavy book I'm currently reading and feeling bogged down in. It was a nice, light read. I felt like I had invited Paula Deen in to sit down at the kitchen table and tell me about her life. Her voice came through perfectly, yet toned down enough that every sentence didn't contain a "y'all." Also, Paula Deen's personality came through perfectly - warts and all, as she says. It took a lot of courage to share some of the secrets she shares. She also shares some very interesting recipes! I'll definitely have to try some of them.

Yet probably my favorite part was the great advice she gives:"Here's what I think: you take the risk if you can live with the worst-case scenario you can imagine. If you write a book and it gets awful reviews, if you open a restaurant and it fails, if you go skiing and you break a leg, if you go to Italy by yourself and not one single person talks to you the whole time, if the man you ask out on a date says thanks but no thanks--will you just wither and die from disappointment or embarrassment? If the answer is yes, play it safe and don't risk what you can't live with. If the answer is no, go for it, girl. Otherwise, you might just drown in a sea of woulda/coulda/shoulda and for the rest of your life rue the day you didn't give opportunity a shot."

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Paula Deen (born Paula Ann Hiers) is an American cook, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.

Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has also published five cookbooks. Though married in 2004 to Michael Anthony Groover, she continues to use the surname Deen from her first marriage professionally.